The Grapes of Wrath by John Stenbeck

I read this book February 2014
It is the March choice for Waterstones Book Club
I first read this in the 1970s a time of full employment and read it as a really good historical story.
Having re-read it in the economic climate we have today, it is even more poignant... the hatred and fear of migrants, their desperation.  The way they are forced off their land and having to move with large amounts of other migrants in a desperate search for  work and to earn - literally - a crust.

The family of 'Oakies'  up sticks and travel to Califormia following teh promise of work, which is not forthcoming  or slave labour wages when they get there.  Gan masters force them to pay for their own bags to gather cotton...they are in a cleft stick, and there is no hope of escape.

Beautifully written and timeless

10/10
Helen

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

I read this February 2014
It was a World Book Night Book I got in 2013
It is a Teen/ Adult Crossover book set in  distopia world where people are segregated according to skin colour. The whites are noughts (or blankers)  inferior and ruled by teh black crosses (or daggers).
Sephy (cross) and Callum (nought) grow up as children together when Callums mother works for Sephy's.  They continue their friendship in secret when Callums mother is sacked.
Callums father and brother are accused of a bombing carried out by the Liberation Militia.
Callum and Sephy lose tough as Sephy goes to boarding schol and Calum joins the LM.  Sephy is kidnapped by Callums cell of teh LM and their love rekindles.

Not bad

7/10

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I read this February 2014
It is the February Waterstones book club choice.
This was Dawn's choice and she described it as 'Sheldon tries to find a wife' snd it sort of is.  For those of you who don't watch Big Bang Theory (why not?)
The 'Sheldon ' chararter is very like Don anally retentive, slightly OCD, set in his ways, socially inept.
This is about a genetics professor who sets out to find a life partner.  By happenchance Rosie appears in his office and he thinks she's a candidate.  Lots of funny gooes on on their oath to love.
Not laugh out loud but a nice easy read...and sometimes that's what you need...
7/10
Helen

Solar by Ian McEwan

I read this book January 2014

From books donated to the charity bookshelf where I work

I have read a lot of Ian McEwan's books and it seems to run that I like/dislike his books in turn.   I don't know what it is, but some I really like and others, like this, leave me cold.

It's about a scientist working on Global Warming... being as I work in a Science lab with the researchers doing roughly the same thing this book just didn't 'ring true' with me.  The lifestyle was much more the corporate world  than scientific one I encounter.  It was just long-winded and a chore to read I'm afraid.

Maybe the next one I pick up will enthrall me, who knows?

3/10 - just my opinion
Helen

Counselling for Toads by Robert de Board

I read this twice once in Dember 2013 and again in January 2014
James lent me this book.

This is a book about the Counselling process written as a story of Toad of Wind in the Willows fame, undergoing Counselling...
I have learnt about these Parent/Child/Adult states before but it never hurts to look again at our own behaviours and why we react the way we do to what life throws up.....
An interesting read as I am going through a lot of family issues at the moment.
Being not one to lose my temper it was nice to read this and actually give myself permission to be angry...
9/10

The Mary Testament by Colm Toibin

I read this January 2014
I borrowed it from Pat McHugh
This is a small book, only 104 pages.
It is an alternative story of Christ's crucifixion written from Mary's point of view.  Interesting, gruesome, poignant.
8/10

The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

I read this January 2014

It was one of the books put forward to read for the Waterstones book club, but was pipped at the post...2 members of the group who had not liked/read  Last Exit to Brooklyn sung it's praises.

The cover blurb does not gove away the plot...
*****Spoiler Alert****
It's about a couple whose marriage is on the rocks going to Nigeria on holiday and encountering 2 girls who have witnessed atrocities in their village, who are hunted down.. some violent scenes. One of the sisters escapes to Britain, where she tracks down the couple...
****End of Alert ****

If I didn't know who this was written by I would have guessed Ian McEwen, if you know his style... to my mind this is quite similar.

It's well written, but I'm not sure it really did it for me...

I think I expected too much...

6/10